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Latest Bites - June 2017
Know Where and When to Go by subscribing to the Weekly Fishing Report,  which is delivered right to your fingertips each week.   Subscribe for electronic delivery through the DEEP e-newsletter subscription.  

Women's Only Fishing Class:  Back by popular demand, our second annual Women's Only fishing class will be on Saturday, June 17th at our CARE Education Center, 364 North Branford Road, Killingworth, from 10 am to 2 pm. Save a space for you and your BFF by calling Tom at 860-663-1656 or Thomas.Bourret@ct.gov 

2017 MARINE FISH  regulations  have changed for Summer Flounder (Fluke). It is now a daily limit of 3 fish and a minimum size of 19 inches.  Those for Black Sea Bass may change later this year (stay tuned).  

Free Fishing License Day Number 1: The first of the two free fishing license days for 2017 will be Sunday, June 18.  Anyone can fish for free by obtaining the FREE 1-day fishing license.  Get your FREE 1-day license now. 

2017 Fishing Licenses:   Licenses for the 2017 season are now available through our on-line system   (mobile friendly).  100% of your investment in the license goes to support Connecticut's fish and wildlife.  A great way for you to show your support for CT's natural resources!
The First of How Many?
On May 29, 2017 this male Atlantic Salmon was observed passing through the Rainbow Dam Fishway in Windsor.  The fish was temporarily held to tag, measure, and weigh.  He was quickly released to continue his upstream migration. Memorial Day weekend is typically prime time for returning adult Atlantic Salmon, so it remains to be seen how many will also pass upstream.  

Check out our archived Facebook Live feed from the Rainbow Dam Fishway on our CT FISH AND WILDLIFE page.
Youth Fishing Passport - Fishing Challenge is ON!
Great catches are streaming in: Congratulations to all of the Youth Fishing Passport holders who have sent a photo of their fantastic catches this spring - keep them coming!  As the school year is winding down, the fishing is heating up so make your plans to get out and fish.

It is not too late to get started.   Passport holders are challenged to fish all year long and with every catch, check off the different species on their  Fishing Challenge Score Card . Email a photo of your successful catch with your conservation ID to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov

Need your FREE Youth Fishing Passport?  Now is the time to get or renew Youth Fishing Passports for your budding young angler.  The Passport is free and available online through our mobile friendly sportsmen licensing system. 
Who is Who and From Where
Connecticut has a long history of fish management dating back to the late 1700's and formalized with the establishment of the Fish Commission in 1866. Early efforts to improve Connecticut's fisheries involved the introduction and stocking of many different species, some of which is ongoing today.

Can you put the appropriate label "NATIVE, INTRODUCED, STOCKED, WILD" with each of the species in the photo below? For a hint on what each term means, see "Terms Defined".  The answers will be in the July edition of CT Fishin' Tips.

Terms Defined:  A fish is often described through a variety of terms based on its range and origin.

Geographical Description:

Native: Connecticut is part of the original range/distribution for the species

Introduced: moved into Connecticut by humans either on purpose or by accident. Connecticut was not part of the original range/distribution of the species.

Invasive:  a species introduced to Connecticut that has a negative impact on the survival of one or more of Connecticut's native species.

Origination Description:

Wild: a fish hatched in Connecticut waters resulting from successful parental reproduction in the environment.

Stocked: the purposeful placement of a fish into Connecticut waters that was hatched in a controlled facility like a hatchery.

Ferral: an species that has reverted from a domesticated stock and is now successfully reproducing in Connecticut.
Free Fishing License Day
June 18, 2017
On Father's Day, Sunday June 18, anyone can fish for free with the free 1-day fishing license.  The free 1-day license is available through our mobile friendly licensing system.

Free Fishing License Days are a perfect way to spend quality time outdoors with friends and family.  Many of us have fond memories of fishing with dad or grandpa when we were kids.  What better way to rekindle some of those memories by taking a fishing trip to your favorite fishing hole.  

Our second date will be Saturday, August 12, 2017 with the free license for this date available starting on July 23, 2017.
Channel Cats are Stocked!
CT Fisheries Division has completed the annual stocking of Channel Catfish.  This very popular game fish was stocked as adults (14-20 inches) into Community Fishing Waters and as yearlings (6-10 inches) into Catfish Management Lakes where they grow to adult size within in a year or two.  Since our stocking, we have been getting reports of great fishing from many of these locations.  

Channel Catfish are omnivores, feeding upon a variety of baits including night crawlers, cut bait, artificial baits, and live minnows.  While they can be more active at night, anglers report catching Channel Cats throughout the day.
This Month's Mystery Fish
Send your guess to DEEP.inland.fisheries@ct.gov 
Mystery Fish Revealed
Last month's  Mystery Fish was t he Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Channel Catfish are one of the most sought after sportfish in the United States. An easy way to tell a Channel Catfish from a bullhead is to look at the tail.  The tail of a Chan nel Catfish is deeply forked (sideways V), while bullhead have a rounded or squared-off tail.  

Channel Cats are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods. Some of the more popular baits include: cut bait, dough balls, live minnows, catfish "power bait", or the traditional night crawler.  An albino (absent of pigment) Channel Catfish is shown in the photo above.  The state record was caught in Mashapaug Pond, Union, in 2004 and weighed 29 pounds and 6 ounces.  For more info, visit DEEP's Catfish Page
Interactive Trout Stocking Map
Connecticut DEEP Interactive Trout Stocking Map: This  interactive map
indicates stocked locations and the number of days since each waterbody was last stocked.

The purpose of this map is to provide the angling community with near real-time information on stocked waters (days since the most recent stocking event) and improved location information about Connecticut's trout stocked waters using the latest in mapping technology.
 
Features:
*Search by town name or waterbody name
*Fixed Search (Query) Options
-List of all stocked waters
-List of all stocked waters within 1 day, 1 week, 1 month
-List of Trout management areas
-List of Trout Parks
-List of Community Fishing Waters
-List of Broodstock Atlantic Salmon Areas
-List of Wild Trout Management Areas
*Zoom in and out
*Legend, Information, Query, and change base map buttons
* Buy my fishing license link
* Mobile friendly with "near me" feature
* Linked information for most waterbodies
-Detailed stocking point map (rivers and streams)
-Depth (Bathymetric) map for lakes and ponds

Learn to Fish for FREE

The Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program has a schedule of our free learn to fish classes on our web site.  Classes are open to families and kids ages 9 and up who are interested in learning the basics of fishing.  Classes are continually being added to the schedule so check back often.

Are You Cover Material?

Have you got the next cover shot?  We are accepting high quality and high resolution photos for the 2018 Angler's Guide Cover Contest (details).  Email your entries to deep.inland.fisheries@ct.gov and good luck!

Join Us on FishBrain

We are pleased to be on FishBrain, the most popular social media app for anglers. FishBrain is a free download for iphone and android. Users take advantage of the free angling support features (or elect to subscribe for premium features).  Follow CTDEEPFish and we will follow you back!

 
License Fees Fund Hunting and Fishing Programs

100%  of the fees collected from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, tags, permits, and stamps goes to support fish and wildlife conservation, preservation, and recreation programs administered by the Bureau of Natural Resources (Connecticut General Statutes 26-15, 20-15(a), 26-15 (b)). 

Each time you purchase a license your contribution goes to support hunting, fishing, and open space right here in CT. 

So, the next time you see a bald eagle, harvest a white-tail, pheasant, or turkey, or catch a brown trout or striped bass, give yourself and your fellow sportsmen a pat on the back!



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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.